Polk County Enterprise - Local News
Copyright 2013 - Polk County Publishing Company

Master gardeners landscape Livingston schools

BY GREG PEAK
Editor
polknews@gmail.com

LIVINGSTON – While beautifying local school campuses, the San Jacinto County Texas Master Gardeners also are helping reduce landscaping maintenance costs. The group, which includes members from Polk County, planted native plants at the Livingston Intermediate School on Saturday. They also recently completed one phase of work at Livingston High School. "By using native plants, we will reduce the amount of care these plants will need,' said Tom McDonough, planting project coordinator. "They will need to be watered for a while, but once they take root, they can survive on the rainfall we receive in the area." Gayle Erwin, president of the group, noted that the master gardener programs are organized under the AgriLife Extension Service in each county. "Right now Polk County does not have its own master gardener program, but we're hoping to change that. We have a master gardener class starting on Jan. 8 and if we can get enough Polk County residents interested, we can help get a chapter organized here," she said. Erwin noted there are several Polk County residents, including McDonough, who have joined the San Jacinto County effort and they felt it only fair to help out with projects in the Livingston area. "They have been coming over to San Jacinto County to help out with projects there, so we're here to return the favor," she said. "We've been working closely with the Livingston school district and we plan to go back to do some more work at the high school in the future," McDonough added. Proving that the local work truly is a multi-county effort, the chief designer for the intermediate school landscaping effort was Susan Moran, a member of the Walker County Master Gardener program. McDonough also issued a call for the donation of 2.5-quart pots to be used to grow additional native plants at the Livingston High School greenhouse. Those with pots they wish to contribute to the program may contact McDonough at 832- 236-0723. Those interested in taking the Jan. 8 Master Gardener Class should contact the San Jacinto County Extension Office at 936-628-6407. The deadline to register is Nov. 25.